December 13, 2013, Jersey City, NJ – The Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Board of Trustees welcomed two new members at its December 3 meeting. Kevin G. Callahan, J.D., JSC (retired) and recent Hudson County Community College graduate Ramsey Olivencia took the oath of office as the newest members on the College’s Board. Judge Callahan replaces Katia Stack and Mr. Olivencia replaces Shannon Gallagher as the Board’s Student Alumni Representative.

“Sincere thanks to Katia Stack for her years of service on this Board. We appreciate all of her efforts on behalf of the College and our students,” said HCCC Board of Trustees Chair William J. Netchert, Esq. “We also want to thank Shannon Gallagher for her service on the Board. Best wishes to both of them for success, health and happiness in the future.”

A lifelong resident of Jersey City, Judge Callahan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Peter’s College (now Saint Peter’s University) and his Juris Doctor degree from Seton Hall Law School. In 2011, he retired after presiding over more than 20,000 cases in the Criminal Division of Hudson County Superior Court for 26 years. Presently, he is a faculty member of the Criminal Justice Department at Saint Peter’s University and Of Counsel to the Law Office of Peter Willis. Judge Callahan’s legal experience also includes service as a Jersey City Municipal Court judge, his own private law practice, an associate at Guarini Law Firm, and Clerk for Judge August Heckman, JSC. His teaching experience includes New Jersey Judicial College, New Jersey New Judge Orientation, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Seton Hall and Rutgers Law Moot Courts, and Comprehensive Judicial Orientation Program. His extensive involvement and support within the community includes work with and for Lincoln Park Little League, College Little League, St. Dominic’s Academy, the Board of Education at Our Lady of Mercy grammar school, the Fathers’ Club at St. Dominic Academy, the Parents’ Club at St. Peter’s Prep, and the Jersey City Boys and Girls Club. He also coached baseball, basketball and softball at the Hudson County CYO. Most recently he was Moderator of the Doyle Conference on Domestic Violence, participated in the NYU Faculty Resource Network program, lectured for the New Jersey State Bar Continuing Education Public Utilities Section, served as Grand Marshal of the Jersey City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and was presented with the Jersey City Dominican Pillar Award (St. Dominic’s Academy) and the Victims’ Rights Lifetime Achievement Award (Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office).

Ramsey Olivencia is a Union City resident, who was awarded his Associate degree in Liberal Arts (Psychology) last May from Hudson County Community College. Currently enrolled at Rutgers University (Newark), Mr. Olivencia is also an Advisor for the Educational Opportunity Fund Mentoring Program at HCCC. While at Hudson County Community College, he was President of Psi Beta International Honor Society for Psychology, Alumni President of the College’s Psychology Club and on the HCCC Judicial Board. He also worked in the College’s Humanities Division and Office of Student Activities.

“On behalf of the College’s faculty and staff, I am happy to extend a warm welcome to Judge Callahan and Mr. Olivencia,” said HCCC President Dr. Glen Gabert. “We look forward to working with them both in continuing to achieve our mission of providing high-quality educational opportunities that promote student success, and that are accessible, comprehensive, and learning centered.”